Victorian Tile Cleaning Archives - Edinburgh Tile Doctor

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor Restoration Morningside Edinburgh

Screed Covered Victorian Vestibule Floor Restored in Morningside

Having seen some of our previous work on the restoration of Victorian tiled floors this customer from Morningside contacted us about the tiled floor in their vestibule.

You can see from the photos below that the tiles were in quite a state and barely recognisable as a Victorian tiled floor. The floor had until recently been covered with a linoleum which had been glued onto a cement screed to level the floor. There were also many loose tiles that would need to be secured before the floor could be cleaned.

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor Before Restoration Morningside Edinburgh

I quoted for rebuilding the floor, removing the cement screed, deep cleaning and finally sealing to protect the tiles going forward. It was going to take a lot of work to restore the Victorian floor back to its original condition fortunately however it was only a small floor.

Convinced that once complete the period floor would amazing and be a great asset to the property my quote was accepted and we agreed a date to commence the work.

Restoring Cement Covered Victorian Floor Tiling

On the first day I scraped off as much cement from the tiles as possible and lifted those that had become loose. Although it’s a small floor the pattern is made up from a lot of individually cut tiles so I ended up removing over 120 pieces of tile in total. We wanted to r-use as much of these original tiles as possible to the old adhesive was grinded off from the back and edges of every Individual tile.

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor During Repair Morningside Edinburgh

On the next visit the floor base was cleaned up and each of the newly grinded tiles were dry fitted to ensure the pattern was correct. This process also revealed where we had missing tiles so these were replaced with reproduction tiles cut to fit exactly.

Once happy with the dry fit, the tiles were put back in place with fresh adhesive and then grouted. Once complete the floor was left to set for three days.

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor During Cleaning Morningside Edinburgh

On my next visit I started the cleaning process commencing with the application of Tile Doctor Acid Gel worked in with a 200-grit diamond pad. The acidic nature of the product breaks down the remaining cement stains and will take care of hold grout smears from the surface of the tile. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

Next, Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel tile cleaner was applied using the same method to remove any remaining dirt, glues and adhesives which were still present. I then used more Tile Doctor diamond pads in 400, 800 and then 1500 grits to further refine the appearance of the Victorian tiles.

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor During Cleaning Morningside Edinburgh

The floor was then wiped with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to neutral the ph level of the floor after using Oxy-Gel which is a strong alkaline product and left to dry out for ten days. The tiles had been covered with lino for over forty years so I wanted to give the floor as much time as possible to dry out. Old floors like this don’t have a damp proof membrane so can take a lot longer to dry out especially if covered with a non-breathable covering like lino.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor

When I returned, the floor was first tested with a damp meter to ensure it was dry enough to proceed with sealing. Applying sealer to a damp floor can lead to a patchy result so its always worth ensuring its dry before proceeding.

All was well with the moisture readings were fine so I was able to proceed and apply the sealer which for this floor we chose Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. This is a robust oil-based impregnating sealer that enhances colour that is externally rated so perfect for a vestibule floor.

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor After Sealing Morningside Edinburgh

My client was over the moon with the transformation and left the following feedback for me:

“The amazing Thomas managed to save our beautiful floor which had been covered for years. We found the floor underneath layers of old linoleum and glue and I was unsure if anyone could bring it back to its former glory.
Can’t recommend his company enough! Xx”

Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor After Restoration Morningside Edinburgh

For the regular cleaning of sealed floors, I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is a gentle yet effective tile cleaner. It’s important to choose a neutral pH cleaner for cleaning sealed tiles as a lot of products you find in supermarkets contain bleach and are simply too strong for cleaning a sealed surface and will quickly erode the sealer with use.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Edinburgh

Screed Covered Victorian Vestibule Floor Restored in Morningside Read More »

Victorian Tiled Porch Floor Renovation Edinburgh

Victorian Porch Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Edinburgh

This is a small job we did recently to renovate a Victorian Tiled Porch floor at a property in Edinburgh that was extremely dirty and stained. Situated at the front of the house the porch was exposed to most of the traffic coming into the property and over time the sealer had worn off the tiles allowing dirt to become trapped into its pores.

Victorian Tiled Porch Before Cleaning Edinburgh

Renovating a Victorian Tiled Porch Floor in Edinburgh

If you have read any of my posts before you will know I’m vary of old Victorian tiled floors like this one. Older floors don’t have a damp-proof membrane so you have to minimise the use of water otherwise it can take days or even weeks before the floor dries out, it can also exacerbate efflorescence issues.

To work around this issue, we have adopted a “Low Moisture Cleaning” system that uses Gel based cleaning products. To start we apply Tile Doctor Acid Gel which being a gel is very easy to control. The gel is applied to the floor and left to dwell for a while before it is worked in with a coarse 100-grit burnishing pad that opens the pores in the tile so the dirt can be flushed out. Then after going over the floor a few times with the pad the slurry was extracted with a wet vacuum.

The porch floor was then inspected and stubborn stains were spot treated until I was happy with the condition of the tiles. I also had to scrape off some paint splashes from decorating.

The next step was to further improve the condition of the Victorian tiles by applying 200, 400 and then an 800-grit burnishing pads. This closes the surface pores and makes the tiles slightly smoother. We find doing this also speeds up drying times. I used minimal water to help lubricate the burnishing process and wipe the floor after each pad using damp cloths.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Porch Floor

The floor was then left to dry off for a week before I returned to seal the floor using Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. This is a modern oil-based sealer that improves structure and is rated for external use so ideal for an area like a porch that gets wet, its also fully breathable so perfect for floors without a damp-proof membrane.

Victorian Tiled Porch Floor After Renovation Edinburgh

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Edinburgh

Victorian Porch Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Edinburgh Read More »

Dirty and Discoloured Victorian Tiled Entrance Cleaned in Edinburgh

1 Comment / Edinburgh Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Thomas Wilson

If you visit Victorian era houses throughout the UK, you will find that many them have colourful tiled entranceways (also sometimes known as vestibules). The tiles are commonly made from encaustic cement, stylised with distinct geometric patterns that really help to add character to the property.

The reign of Queen Victoria was a prosperous and confident time for Scotland – and many new houses and buildings were built in the well-known ‘Victorian’ style during the period. One of the best-known buildings to be built was Balmoral Castle, which is still in use by the Royal Family as a holiday home.

Homeowners who are fortunate enough to be in possession of original Victorian tiles will find that they are not easy to keep clean without the right products and methods. The entrance to any house of course is subject to high amounts of foot traffic, which means the tiles can become dirt and discoloured very quickly indeed.

Here is an example that we cleaned and sealed recently in Edinburgh, although in good physical condition for its age the sealer on the floor had worn off and dirt had become ingrained in the tile reducing its overall appearance.

Small Victorian Porch Before Cleaning Edinburgh

Cleaning Dirty and Discoloured Victorian Tiles

Having restored hundreds of Victorian tiled floors in the past, Tile Doctor has developed tried and tested methods for cleaning all types of tiled floors so tackling this small floor would not be a problem.

To begin, we gave the floor a deep clean to break down any old sealants and to cut through thick layers of dirt and grime. The cleaning solution we employed consisted of two products: Tile Doctor Pro Clean (which is a strong alkaline cleaner) and Tile Doctor Remove and Go (which is a stripping agent formulated for the removal of old sealants, synthetic coatings, glues, and paints). The solution is applied and left to soak into the tile for ten to twenty minutes before being scrubbed in, which for a small area such as this needs to be done by hand. The soiled solution is then rinsed off with water and this is then extracted using a wet vacuum. This deep cleaning process was repeated several times to make sure the tiles were as clean as possible.

Once we were happy that all the dirt and grime had been removed, we gave the floor a quick acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up to remove any old grout smears and to neutralise any potential salt efflorescence issues. The floor was then given a final rinse before leaving it to dry off fully overnight and a turbo air mover was left running to help speed up the process and ensure the floor was completely dry to be sealed the following day.

We are very conscious of the fact that many of these old Victorian tiled floors to have damp-proof membranes installed beneath them, so we wanted to guarantee there would be no damp issues that would prevent us from applying a fresh sealant. This is because even a small amount of excess moisture can potentially damage the performance of the sealant.

Sealing an Original Victorian Tiled Entrance

Returning to the property on the second day, we proceed to seal the tiles with three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This sealant soaks into the pores of the tile protecting it from within and providing long term protection, it also enhances the colours in the tile in the process.

The difference made by this two-day restoration is shown below. It is quite amazing how quickly these results can be achieved considering the age and previous condition of the tiles. Our customer was absolutely thrilled.

Small Victorian Porch After Cleaning Edinburgh

Professional Cleaning and Sealing of a Victorian Tiled Entrance in Edinburgh

Dirty and Discoloured Victorian Tiled Entrance Cleaned in Edinburgh Read More »

Victorian Tiled Office Entrance Cleaned and Sealed in Edinburgh CIty

1 Comment / Edinburgh Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Thomas Wilson

These are photos of a Victorian tiled floor we renovated at the new Scottish head office of the Peoples Postcode Lottery in the centre of Edinburgh City where the building was going through a multi million pound refurbishment. Edinburgh has a lot of Georgian and Victorian architecture, much of which is listed and as a result many still have original Victorian tiled flooring.

I’ve not really looked at the Postcode Lottery until now but put simply you give the lottery £10 a month and your postcode is your winning ticket number, there are prize draws every day and if your postcode comes up every one in the system with that postcode wins; they also give 31% to charity which is impressive.

Victorian Tiled Floor Before Cleaning Postcode Lottery HQ Edinburgh

Cleaning Original Victorian Tiles

You can see from the photograph that the floor was in good physical condition but was looking tired and dull. This is not unusual for Victorian tiles as once the sealer wears down dirt can penetrate into the pores of the tile causing it to lose its appearance.

On the first day we set about stripping the floor of what remained of the old sealant using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is an industrial strength alkaline tile and grout cleaning product that is safe to use on Tile and Stone. The product is applied to the floor, left to soak in for ten minutes and the scrubbed into the tile using a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary bonnet machine. The floor was then rinsed and the now soiled cleaning solution extracted using a wet vacuum.

The process was repeated several times until we were happy the floor was clean and free of sealer and then given a final rinse with water. Before leaving for the day the floor was dried as much as possible using the wet vacuum to extract as much moisture as possible.

Sealing Original Victorian Tiles

On the second day our first task was to check the floor with a damp meter in several places to ensure the tiles had dried off overnight. All was well and we began the process of sealing the floor with a Tile Doctor Seal and Go. This is a topical sealer which provides a high-quality low-sheen finish and protection against ingrained dirt and stains.

Victorian Tiled Floor After Cleaning Postcode Lottery HQ Edinburgh

Victorian tiles are quite porous and five coats were needed to fully seal the floor. This took some time to complete as you have to wait until the first coat is dry before applying the next however it was well worth the effort as the floor looked fantastic afterwards.

Professional Renovation of an Original Victorian Tiled Floor in the City of Edinburgh

Victorian Tiled Office Entrance Cleaned and Sealed in Edinburgh CIty Read More »

Original Victorian Tiles Refreshed With Deep Clean and Seal in Edinburgh

1 Comment / Edinburgh Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Thomas Wilson

Edinburgh became an increasingly important city in the UK during the Victorian period. Although overtaken by Glasgow as Scotland’s largest city in the early 19th century, Edinburgh experienced expansion and industrialisation, and many areas which had been populated by Georgian architecture were rebuilt with Victorian buildings.

Of course, this included many Victorian residential properties, many of which are still inhabited, and still have original Victorian tiled flooring. A lot of property owners choose to keep the original tiles rather than strip them out, and we specialise in restoring and maintaining them.

I recently visited a property in Edinburgh to provide a deep clean and fresh seal for some Victorian porch tiles that were looking a bit worse for wear. The job was carried out over the space of two days.

Victorian Porch Entrance Before Cleaning Edinburgh

Cleaning Original Victorian Tiles

On the first day of work, I arrived at the property and immediately began by stripping the floor of any old sealant. Sealers don’t last forever and are worn away over time requiring them to be routinely topped up with a fresh application, however in this case the sealer had worn off completely in most places allowing dirt to become ingrained in the pores of the tile, so the only course of action would be to strip off what was left, clean the floor and reseal.

The old sealant was removed using a strong solution of our natural stone cleaner and stripper, known as Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, and our heavy-duty sealer and coating remover, known as Tile Doctor Remove and Go. This combination of products was applied and scrubbed into the stone using a black buffing pad fitted to a rotary machine. The floor was then rinsed to remove any excess chemical residue and the moisture was soaked up.

Next, the floor was then burnished using a coarse diamond-encrusted burnishing pad to grind off tough stains and rinsed again with fresh water. Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, which is an excellent pH-neutral cleaner for routine maintenance, was then used to complete the cleaning process and the tiles were left to dry completely overnight.

Sealing Original Victorian Tiles

On the second day of work, the tiles had dried off nicely overnight and I was able to return to the property to seal the tiles using five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. This is a topical sealer which provides a high-quality low-sheen finish and protection against ingrained dirt and stains. In this case, the customer had opted for a sheen finish as opposed to a natural-look, matte finish.

Comparing the before and after photos, it’s clear how significant a difference routine maintenance can make to the appearance and condition of these original Victorian tiles. The customer was very pleased with the outcome and I recommended the use of our Neutral Tile Cleaner for frequent cleaning in the future. Being PH neutral it won’t prematurely erode the sealer like many acidic supermarket products.

Victorian Porch Entrance After Cleaning Edinburgh

Professional Tile Cleaning and Sealing for an Original Victorian Tiled Floor in Edinburgh

Original Victorian Tiles Refreshed With Deep Clean and Seal in Edinburgh Read More »